Apparatus for heating and handling asphalt



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SeptQ28, 1954 w. J. MILLER APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND HANDLING ASPHALT Filed March so, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. William J. Miller A ORNEY P 1954 w. J. MILLER 2,690,172

APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND, HANDLING ASPHALT Filed March 30, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. William J. Miller A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR HEATING AND HANDLING ASPHALT WiHiamJoseph Miller, Youngstown; Ohio Application March 30, 1953, Serial No. 345",118

8 Claims. I.

Thisinvention relates to apparatus for heating and handling asphalt and more particularly to apparatus incorporating a liquid heat transferr'ing medium and means for heating the said' liquid.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a combination asphalt storage and heating tank incorporating a built-in heating means for liquei'ying asp-halt in the heating portion of the apparatus;

A further object of the invention is the provision of a, combination asphalt storage, heating and circulating apparatus arranged to utilize waste heat from the heating means in maintaining" the asphalt. in storage in. semi-liquid condition.

Av still: further object ofthe invention is the provisionof an asphalt storage; tank incorporating a built-in asphalt l'iquefying tank and abuilt-inliquid heating? means together with means for circulating the liquid heating medium through the asphalt liquefying tank.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combination asphalt storage and heating apparatus incorporating a built-in fluid heater and circulatory system for a liquid heating medium th'e entire. apparatusbeing combined in a portable compact unit.

The apparatus for heating and handling asphalt disclosed herein comprises an improvement in the art relating to asphalt storage and heating. which has heretofore been. carried out in separate and distinct tanks or other con tainers. As known in the art,v asphalt is" com"- monly stored in storage tan-ks which are: provided with heat exchanger coils and through which a heating medium, either fluid or liquid, may be passed! to maintain the asphalt in liquid or semiliquid condition so that it can be pumped from the storage tanks to a point of use.

In asphalt plants asphalt is commonly heated to render it liquid or semi-liquid and trans"- ferred to mixing plants where it is heated adv ditionally to render it completely liquid and then mixed with various aggregates in the form of bituminous concrete, etc;

The operation of such asphalt mixing plants has heretofore necessitated the provision of asphaltstorage tanksand' separate heating tanks and extensive heating." means for heating hoth the storage tanksand heating. tanks; it being understood that the heating tanks were generall'y of considerably smaller volume than the storage: tanks.

The: present; invention com'hinesi in one port"- able unit a storage tank: with a built-in heating tank and: a built-in liquid heater together with means for circulating: a liquidheating medium from the liquid heater through the asphalt heating tank and through: the necessary connections: with the asphalt tanks, which connections enable the asphalt to he handled and simultaneously heated.

Those skilled intheart will recognize that heat ordinarily wasted is thus utilized efiieiently and economically in that heat escaping from the liquid heater and the asphalt heating tank is utilized in maintaining the asphalt storage tank at a desirable temperature; Additionally; no heat is lost from piping connections hereto-- fore necessary as suoh'piping, connections are almost entirelyeliniinated due tothe inoorporaherein chosen for purposes of the disclosure;

which do not eonstitute'departures from the spirit and scope of the: invention.

The invention is illustrated.- in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 isa vertical section taken longitudinall-y of the apparatus for heating and han dling asphalt; v

Figure'z is a-"front' endview, section lines I- l' indicating thecrosssection of Figure 1;

Figure 3- is ahorizontal cross section taken on line S -3 of Figure2; v

Figure 4 is a rear'end elevation-of the apparatus for heating andhand-ling asphalt.

Figure 5" is? an enlarged section on line 5 5 of Figure 4. p I

Figure 6 is a vertical sectiontaken on line 6-8 of. Figure I.- I

By referring, to the drawings: and Figures 1, 2' and 3 in particular it will be seenthat the apparatus forxheating and handling asphaltwardly f rom tne: ends thereof arid includes a front wall manna rear wall t t. An access port It is formed the' top off the cylindricar tank 12- anTdIi's normally closed by a closure 16L J A false bottom I1 is formed in the cylindrical tank I2 and extends longitudinally thereof between the front and rear walls I3 and I4, respectively, and is bowed downwardly transversely of the cylindrical tank I2 and secured at its longitudinal edges to the inner lower sides of the cylindrical tank I2 so that the area above the false bottom I1 is semi-circular and so that the false bottom I! hangs, in effect, from the sides of the cylindrical tank I2 and is thereby capable of carrying a considerable volume of asphalt thereabove as it forms, in effect, a continuation of the cylindrical walls of the tank I2.

An access opening I8 is provided in the false bottom I! and is equipped with a closure Ill. A control rod extends from the closure I9 upwardly through the access opening I5 and outwardly through the closure I6 so that the closure I9 may be manually manipulated thereby.

It will thus be seen that the cylindrical tank I2 is divided into upper and lower chambers by the false bottom I! and that means of communication is established between these upper and lower chambers by the access opening I8 and that such means of communication is controlled. by the closure I9.

The cylindrical tank I2 has a container 2! positioned therein above the false bottom I! and adjacent the front wall I3 thereof and partially extending through the front wall I3. The con.- tainer 2I is preferably obround and has a front wall 22 and a rear wall 23.

The container 2I has a secondary container 24 positioned therein, which secondary container 24 is preferably obround and of a size smaller than the container 2| and is provided in turn with a front wall 25 and a rear wall 26. The secondary container 24 is adapted to receive the products of combustion as directed thereinto from an oil burner 21 which is engaged in an opening 28 in the front wall 25 of the secondary container 24. The products of combustion leave the secondary container 24 through an outlet orifice 29 in the front wall 25 of the secondary container 26, which noitlet orifice 28 communicates with a vent stack The secondary container 24 has a transversely positioned hollow bafiie 3I therein extending between the opposite side walls of the secondary container 24 to which it is secured and from the front wall 25 to which it is secured to a point near the rear wall 26 and is thereby located between the inlet orifice 28 through which the products of combustion are introduced into the secondary container 24 and the outlet orifice 28 through which they pass from the container 24.

The container 2| is adapted to be filled with a liquid heating medium such as oil as is the hollow baffle 3I. Tubular members 32 and 33 communicate with the hollow baffle 3I and the interior of the container 2| so that oil may be circulated therethrough.

Means for circulating the oil comprises a pump 34 driven by a motor 35 which is mounted on a transverse platform 36 across the front of the base I0 and which may comprise the top wall of a fuel supply tank with the oil burner 21, if desired.

The tubular member 32 heretofore referred to communicates directly with the hollow bafile 3I and the lower portion of the container 2i while the tubular member 33 communicates with the hollow baffle 3| and with a manifold 31 which in turn establishes communication with a longitudinally extending oil line 38 most of which is positioned in the lowermost portion of the chamber beneath the false bottom I] in the cylindri cal tank I2.

The oil line 38 extends completely through the end walls I3 and It of the cylindrical tank I2 and does not communicate with either of the chambers above or below the false bottom I! therein. A tubular member 39 extends from the upper portion of the container M to the pump 34 and thence to a hot oil transfer line M] which like the hot oil line 38 lies in the bottom cylindrical tank If below the false bottom Il and extends through the end walls I3 and I4 thereof.

A heat exchange coil M is positioned in the chamber beneath the false bottom I! and has one end thereof extending out through the rear wall I4 of the cylindrical tank I2 where it communicates by way of a valve 42 with the hot oil line 43, heretofore referred to. The other end of the heat exchange coil M also extends through the end wall It and communicates by way of a valve 43 with the hot oil line 38.

It will thus be seen that when the pump 36 is operated, oil from the container 2! flows outwardly through the tubular member 39 and through the hot oil line MI to the valve $2 from whence it flows through the heat exchange coil M and serves to liquefy asphalt in the chamber below the false bottom ll. Leaving the heat exchange coil M, it flows through the valve 43 and into the hot oil line 38 by which it returns to the front of the apparatus and to the manifold 31 and the tubular member 33 which delivers it into the hollow baffle 3 I.

The oil flows from the hollow baflle 3! to the container 2! through the tubular member heretofore referred to, and thus completes the cycle. It will thus be seen that when the oil burner 21 is operated, hot gaseous products of combustion are delivered into the secondary container 24 which is almost completely surrounded by oil in the container 2| and that such oil is also present in the hollow baffle 3I within the secondary container 24. The oil is, therefore, heated efficiently and rapidly and is circulated by the pump 34 so that asphalt in the lower chamber beneath the false bottom I! of the cylindrical tank I2 is rapidly liquefied and may be readily pumped therefrom.

Those skilled in the art will also observe that the manifold 31 and the tubular member 3?, are provided with valved extensions, the valves being indicated by the numerals 44 and &5 so that hot oil from the apparatus may be circulated through the various bins, tanks, mixers, etc, commonly termed a mixing tower in an asphalt mixing plant.

Additionally, the hot oil is used to maintain desirable temperatures in asphalt handlin lines and pump also incorporated in the apparatus and as best shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings.

By referring to Figure l of the drawings it will be seen that an asphalt line 46 communicates with the lower rear portion of the chamber beneath the false bottom I? in the cylindrical tank I2 and extends through the end wall It into a jacketed section 46A which in turn communicates with a jacketed three-way valve 4'7.

A hot oil line 48 controlled by a valve 49 establishes communication between the hot oil line 40 and the jacketed section 46A of the asphalt line 46. The valve 41 is also jacketed as is a strainer 58 and an intermediate section of communicating piping 49. A pump 50 is also jacketed and communicates withthe strainer 48- by way of another section of jacketed piping 51 with asecondary three-way valve 52 which; is also jacketed;

The secondary three-way valve 52 communi'cates with a main asphalt line 53. A jacketed" portion 53A lies outside the end wall M while the remainder lies within the tank i2 and below the false bottom H. The jacketed portion 53A communicates with the hot oil line 38 by way of a section of hot oil pipe 54' and a valve 55*. Thus, hot oil from the container 24' as circulated by the pump 34 and controlled by the valves 49- and 55' flows through the jacketed three-way valves 41 and 52 and the asphalt strainer 58 and pump 50; the asphalt flowing through these portions of the device thus being kept liquid through the jacketed construction in which the hot oil circulated. Liquid asphalt" is delivered at the front of the apparatus at the front end of the asphalt pipe 53 where it emerges through the front wall ['3 of the cylindrical tank IZ'.

The delivery orifice is best shown in Figure 2 of the-drawings and it will. be obvious to those skilled in the art that suitable jacketed piping (not shown) conveys the asphalt to the mixing tower of the asphalt plant or the like asv desired.

As it is necessary to keepthe; asphalt liquid, it is; customarily circulated and; provision is therefore made for the return of the unused asphalt tothe apparatus and a delivery portion 56- also on the front wall. [5 of. the cylindrical tank and immediately below the outlet 53 heretofore re ferred to.

A tubular member 51' delivers the returning asph-al-tto the lower chamber below the falsebottom [1 in the tank l2.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that the hot oil heater portion of the apparatus may be operated more or less continuously to main tain the asphalt in the storage tank comprising the chamber above the false bottom I! in semiliquid condition and that when asphalt in completely liquefied state is necessary, as in the operation of the asphalt plant, the asphalt in the limited area in the chamber beneath the false bottom I! is readily available for use. As such asphalt is removed, the same is replenished from the supply in storage flowing through the access opening l8, as desired.

It will also be observed by those skilled in the art that the system for heating and circulating the hot oil is separate and distinct from the asphalt handling system as the hot oil pump 34 is driven by the motor while the asphalt pump 50 is driven by a separate motor 58.

A secondary transverse tank 59 forms a platform for the strainer 48 and pump 50 and may obviously be interconnected by way of valves with the hot oil circulating lines and used as a hot oil storage and/or supply tank, if desired.

It will thus be seen that the several objects of the invention are met by the apparatus as herein disclosed and that extremely economical operation is achieved due to the close relationship of the various portions of the apparatus to the end that such heat as is wasted from the liquid heating means is used in maintaining the asphalt storage at desirable temperature.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for heating and handling asphalt comprising a primary tank having a false bottom therein dividing said tank into upper and lower chambers, there being an opening through the false bottom establishing communication be tweensaid upper and lower chambers, a second-' ary tank positioned substantially within said" primary tank and above said false bottom thereof,-

one wall of said secondary tank being common one wall of said primary tank, a container positioned withinsaid secondary tank and having one wall common with said common wall of said primary tank and said secondary tank, said common wall of said container having inlet'and; outlet openings for the introduction and removal of products of combustion, means for supporting combustion insaid container, said secondary.

heated and liquefied, and means communicating with said chamber beneath the said false bottom of said primary tank for removing asphalt therefrom.

2. The apparatus for heating and handling asphalt set forth in claim 1 wherein the means fer removing asphalt from the chamber beneath the false bottom of the primary tank comprises a secondary pump and communicating piping, said pump and pipingbeing jacketed and the jacketsthereof being in communication with said heat exchanger.

3'. The apparatus for heating and handling asphalt set forth in claim 1 wherein said container has therein a transversely positioned longitudinally extending hollow bafile positioned between said inlet and outlet openings, and wherein said hollow bafile is in communication with said oil heating chamber.

4. Apparatus for heating and handling asphalt comprising a cylindrical tank having front and rear walls and a concave false bottom extending transversely and arcuately between the opposite sides of said cylindrical tank and engaging the front and rear walls at its ends and having an opening and valve means for controlling said opening and dividing said cylindrical tank into upper and lower chambers for the reception of asphalt, said cylindrical tank having an access opening in its uppermost portion, means extending from said valve to said access opening for manipulating said valve, a secondary cylindrical tank having front and rear walls and positioned through the front wall of said cylindrical tank and positioned substantially within said cylindrical tank above the false bottom, a cylindrical container having front and rear walls and positioned through front wall of said secondary tank and positioned substantially within said secondary tank in spaced relation to the walls thereof, the area around said container and within said secondary tank comprising an oil heating chamher, a longitudinally extending transversely positioned baffie in said container, said front wall of said container having inlet and outlet openings respectively below and above said baffle, an oil burner in communication with said inlet opening for supporting combustion in said container and a flue in communication with said outlet opening, a heat exchanger in the first mentioned cylindrical tank below the false bottom thereof and tubular means including a pump connecting said heat exchanger and said oil heating chamber, and secondary tubular means in communication with the chamber in the cylindrical tank below the false bottom for removing asphalt therefrom.

5. The apparatus for heating and handling asphalt set forth in claim 4 wherein the battle in said container is hollow and in communication with the said oil heating chamber.

6. lhe apparatus for heating and handling asphalt set forth in claim 4 wherein the tubular means in communication with the chamber below the false bottom of the cylindrical tank includes a strainer and a pump and wherein said tubular means, strainer and pump are jacketed and the jackets thereof are in communication with said secondary tank so that hot oil may be pumped therethrough to maintain the temperature of asphalt moved therethrough.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 including a unitary mounting frame secured thereto and extending beyond the front and back walls of said cylindrical tank and having a fuel tank mounted adjacent said front wall and forming a support for said oil burner and an oil storage tank mounted adjacent said back wall and forming a support for said asphalt pump and strainer and forming a reservoir for oil to be heated in said apparatus.

8. Apparatus for heating and handling asphalt comprising a primary tank having a false bottom therein dividing said tank into upper and lower chambers, the false bottom having an opening establishing communication between said upper and lower chambers, a secondary tank positioned substantially within said primary tank, one wall of said secondary tank being common with one wall of said primary tank, a container positioned within said secondary tank and having one wall common with said common wall of said primary and said secondary tank, said common wall of said container having inlet and outlet openings for the introduction and removal of products of combustion, means for supporting combustion in said container, said secondary tank and said container being disposed one within the other in spaced relation to each other and defining an oil heating chamber surrounding the container and said primary tank comprising an asphalt storage tank, a heat exchanger in said primary tank below said false bottom, and means including a circulating pump establishing communication between said oil heating chamber and said heat exchanger whereby asphalt in the chamber below the false bottom may be rapidly heated and liquefied, and means communicating with said chamber beneath the said false bottom of said primary tank for removing asphalt therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,350,502 I-Ietherington Aug. 24, 1920 2,048,299 Schumann July 21, 1936 2,136,242 Haupt Nov. 8, 1938 2,454,286 Lerner Nov. 23, 1948 2,476,431 Root July 19, 1949 2,613,665 Miller Oct. 14, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 799,650 France Apr. 11, 1936 

